330 
the formation of the dolomitic Alpine Breccias, as compared 
with some tertiary mountains in Lower Austria, which resemble 
them, but are quite distinct im origin. 
May 23.—A communica'ion from Prof, Horsford, of Cam- 
bridge, U.S., treated of the reduction of carbonic acid to car- 
bonic oxide through phosphate of iron.—MM. Hlasiwetz and 
Habermann concluded their account of researches on protein- 
stuffs. They find the decomposition-products of casein to be, 
exclusively, these : glutamic acid, aspartic acid, leucin, tyrosin, 
and ammonia.—Dr. Heitzmann gave a paper on the relation 
between protoplasm and ground substance in animal bodies. 
June 13.—-Dr. Basch presented a note on the retardation of 
intestinal motion through the nervus splanchnicus. 
June 19.—M. Fritsch presented the third part of his normal 
flower-calendar for Austro-Hungary.—Prof, Maley described re- 
searches made along with Dr. Donath on the chemistry of bones. 
One chief object was to ascertain whether the substance of bones 
is a combination of calcic phosphate with the lime-furnishing 
mass, in chemical sense, or whether it is not rather an intimate 
mechanical mixture of the two constituents, They adopt the 
latter view.—Pro’. Tépler described two applications of the 
principle of air friction to measuring instrumeits. A suspended 
magnet has, connected with it below, and in the same plane, a 
vertical plate, moving in a closed case, the vertical section of 
which it nearly fills. By inserting cross walls in the case, the 
motion of magnet and plate may be deadened by air friction ; 
and that in proportion as the cross plates are pushed far in or 
not. The other application is for levelling purposes. The 
observer looks through a telescope at a little square mirrcr sus- 
pended by two threads in a glass case scarcely larger than it. 
The mirror moves as if in a viscous liquid.—Prof. Suess pre- 
sented a memoir on the earthquakes of Lower Austria. Two 
lines of direction are distinguished.—Dr. Holetschek discussed 
the path of the first comet of 1871.—Dr. Heitzmann described 
experiments in which he had fed carnivorous animals with lactic 
acid, and also injected it subcutaneously ; the result being arth- 
ritis and osteomalacia. 
June 26.—Dr, Heitzmann read a paper on the life phases of 
protoplasm, 
July 10—M. Simony gave the principal results of a large 
theoretical work occupying him, in which a new molecular theory 
will be developed, requiring only one matter and one principle 
of force.—Dr. Bohm gave a note on the germination of seeds in 
pure oxygen gas. In such gas, of ordinary density, seeds did not 
get beyond the first stages ; but, curiously, if the gas was diluted 
with # of its volume of hydrogen, or rarified to a pressure of 
150 mm, they germinated as in air—Dr. Heitzmann read a 
paper on the development of periosteum, bone, and cartilage, 
July 17.—Dr. Bébm presented a note on the influence of car- 
bonic acid on the verdure and growth of plants. In an atmo. 
sphere containing only 2 per cent. CO, the formation of chloro- 
phyll was retarded ; while 20 per cent. suppressed it entirely in 
most cases. The gas was also found prejudicial, in various 
degrees to the germination of seeds,— Dr. Sigmund Mayer de- 
scribed some experiments on direct electrical stimulation of the 
heart in mammalia.—Prof, Suess gave a paper on the formation 
of mountains in central Europe, and Dr. Heitzmann one on in- 
flammation of periosteum, bone, and cartilage, 
G6TTINGEN 
Royal Society of Sciences, June 14.—M. Waitz read a 
note on some lost Mayence Annals.—M. Benfey presented a 
philological paper on the suffixes anti, Gi, and ianti iéti, in 
Sanscrit, Latin, and Greek; also a notice of some Mongolian 
and Cingalese legendary fragments ; and sketched the design of 
a trealise on ‘‘eye-speech,” pantomime, gestures, and modula- 
tions of the voice, phenomena which he urges travellers to make 
careful note of, and grammarians to study more than previously, 
as throwing light on the development of speech and languages. 
—M. Quincke described a new method of observing circle divi- 
sions in telescopic work. —Dr. Voss communicated mathematical 
notes on the simple transformation of plane curves, and the 
geometry of surfaces,—Dr. von Brunn described certain smooth 
muscular fibres jound in the suprarenal bodies, accompanying 
the larger veins, and forming cylindrical or flat bundles.—M. 
Enneper presenied a second note on orthogonal surfaces.—M. 
Bjerknes made some historical observations on Dirichlet’s pro- 
blem of a ball at rest in an agitated, unelastic, infinite liquid, 
and generalised some results previously obtained on the subject. 
—M. Klinkerfues made some remarks on the method of deter- 
mining parallax by radiants; the results of this method, for 
Sirius, agree pretty clozely with observation.—M. Lolling con. 
tributed a lengthy memoir on the topography of Athens. From 
local study, and the Greek authors, he seeks to determine th 
position and niture of the Pnvx, the Bema, the cave of Apollo 
in the Acropolis, and the Metroon. He is now prosecuting 
these inquiries further. 
July 5.—M. Benfey made som@ remarks on the dual nomina- 
tive “ asmritadhri ” occurring in the Rigveda.—Fr. Wie-eler 
P. 
Academy of Sciences, Aug. 11.—M. de Quatrefages, pres 
dest, in the chair.—The following papers were read :—A re 
to M. Tacchini’s new objections, by M. Faye. Tre author a 
contradiction with the theories which he atiributes to me, 
but not with those which I have really published.”—On the 
Cyanides, by M. Berthelot—On the 1e-solution of pre- 
cipitates, by M. Berthelot.—On the palms of New Caled 
by M. Ad. Brongniart.—On the carpellary theory applied t 
Ranunculaceae, by M. Trécul.—M. Elie de Beaumont frunished 
some further descriptive matter on the detailed geolo: 
France.—M., A. Ledieu read the fifth portion of his pap 
on thermo-dynamics.—On the movements of the tide on 
the coasts of France, change in the time of high water at 
Havre since the embankment of the Seine, by M. L. Gaussin.— 
On the passage of gases through colloidal vegetable membranes, 
by M. A. Ba;thélemy.—Note on the methods employed for the 
analysis of the natural phosphates employed in agriculture, 
M.C. Mene. The author strongly advocated the use of 
prehistoric human relics, and upwards of 500 cubic metres of 
ashes. The human relics include a drawing, on rein-deer horn, | 
of a heath-cock.—Analytical solution of curve traces of several 
centres by means of Perronet’s geometrical process, by M. Reyellat. 
—On fluorene, by M. Barbier. This is the name given to a hydro- 
carbon exhibiting great fluorescence, and occurring in coal-tar 
boiling between 300° and 340°.—On the action of platinum and 
palladium on the hyd ocarbons, by M. Coquillion.—On the 
variations of hemoglobin in various diseases, by M. Quinquaud, 
CONTENTS Pace 
Tue Report oF THE ScrENcE CoMMISSION ON THE OLv Universities 317 _ 
Hakmonic Ecnogs. By The Lord RaYLzIGH, FR:S,) 5. eens 319 
Leiru-Apams' “ Fietp AND Forest RAMBLES”. . . eee pi: 
Hoerer's “History oF Puysics AND Cuemistry.” By-G, F, 
RopWELi,, E.GiS,\: cae Gls, See ee) 
Our Book SHELF. 3 sis evs eo ss 
Lerrers To THE Epitor:— 4 
Atoms and Ether.—Atzert J. Morr... . . <. seae 
Instinct—A. W. Howitt ; Commander RICHARD H. Napier. . 
The Origin of Nerve Force.—Henry R, PROCTER 5 0, ee 324 
The Flight of Birds —J. Herscuet . . . . , os ee 
Earthquakes in the Samoan Islands, S. Pacific.—S. J. WHITMER . 325 
THE ARITHMOMETER (2th Illustration) . o>? 0 Weta a 
ON THe SclENCE oF WEIGHING AND MEASURING, AND THE STANDARDS 
oF WEeGuT anp Measurg, III. By H. W. Cuisuoim, Wardenof the 
Standards (With Iliustrations) . . . . °° 6, i Bouse eae 
Tue Tuscan Memoria To GALILEO. By G F Ropwett, F.C.S. ; 329 
Tue SPHYGMOGRAPH AND 1HE PULSE . > 
American ExpLorinG EXPEDITIONS IN THE GREAT Wasted aa ‘ 
iOS MMR ICn 8 
SCIANTIRIC SERIATS, . |)" EMME es) cc Thane = ° 2: Seal gas 
SocieTigs AND ACADEMIES... . . . 7 oe ae + 335 
Errata.—Vol. viii. p. 299, col. 2, at bottom, Equation (6), should 
read :— 
x \M= 4 2)Ea(er)4(2)b 4 (om) 2) 
“GING. + ae)! + (=a 
The calculations were not made by means of this equation, either in it 
right or wrong form, but irom the values of 6 given in iaule I.—Jj. Crexx 
AXWELL, 
P. 300, xst col. equation (7) should be 2= = ice 
. ons? 
P. 309, transfer top line of col, 1 to top Ine of col, 2, Pp. 308. 
